Commuting ebike / My ebikes

[Couchy]

Riding 20 miles uses less than 40% of a 500w battery so I guess effective range is over 50 miles, but then again I'm not trying to ride an eBike as an electric off-road motorcycle ...

In the peaks a 625 lasts 20-25 miles with 4000’ of climbing.
Tbh I ride an ebike to go as fast as possible as you can’t use a motorbike in these areas anymore, i don’t understand having an ebike and not using it to its full assist. For the same effort as a normal bike you get lots more speed. Some of the climbs you would never make in eco mode and need turbo, with the extra assist you can tackle steeper longer stuff. If I was going slow enough/ easy terrain to make the battery last that long I wouldn’t have an ebike I’d just pedal.

^^^ As you have previously said.

There is much terrain, which you are clearly not interested in, which is gnarly, twisty, often rooty, and relatively slow which many riders are interested in, and which often requires steep ascents to reach.

Lots of slow tech stuff local and a lot of XC stuff too which I enjoy just as much, also all done in turbo/emtb, but we all ride for different reasons I just don’t see why I’d have an ebike and use eco. I’d rather a light normal bike or one of the lighter lower powered ebikes. Tbh tempted by an Orbea rise but would like to ride one first

[irie]

In the peaks a 625 lasts 20-25 miles with 4000’ of climbing.
Tbh I ride an ebike to go as fast as possible as you can’t use a motorbike in these areas anymore, i don’t understand having an ebike and not using it to its full assist. For the same effort as a normal bike you get lots more speed. Some of the climbs you would never make in eco mode and need turbo, with the extra assist you can tackle steeper longer stuff. If I was going slow enough/ easy terrain to make the battery last that long I wouldn’t have an ebike I’d just pedal.

^^^ As you have previously said.

There is much terrain, which you are clearly not interested in, which is gnarly, twisty, often rooty, and relatively slow which many riders are interested in, and which often requires steep ascents to reach.

Lots of slow tech stuff local and a lot of XC stuff too which I enjoy just as much, also all done in turbo/emtb, but we all ride for different reasons

Agreed.

I just don’t see why I’d have an ebike and use eco. I’d rather a light normal bike or one of the lighter lower powered ebikes. Tbh tempted by an Orbea rise but would like to ride one first

Lots of people do lots of things for different reasons.

If the highest possible speeds give you a buzz then why don't you race motorcycles?

[weeksy]

^^^ As you have previously said.

There is much terrain, which you are clearly not interested in, which is gnarly, twisty, often rooty, and relatively slow which many riders are interested in, and which often requires steep ascents to reach.

Lots of slow tech stuff local and a lot of XC stuff too which I enjoy just as much, also all done in turbo/emtb, but we all ride for different reasons

Agreed.

I just don’t see why I’d have an ebike and use eco. I’d rather a light normal bike or one of the lighter lower powered ebikes. Tbh tempted by an Orbea rise but would like to ride one first

Lots of people do lots of things for different reasons.

If the highest possible speeds give you a buzz then why don't you race motorcycles?

He did, for years.

But 25mph can still be crazy fast if the trees are close, so even though a lower speed you can still get the fun

[irie]

Lots of slow tech stuff local and a lot of XC stuff too which I enjoy just as much, also all done in turbo/emtb, but we all ride for different reasons

Agreed.

I just don’t see why I’d have an ebike and use eco. I’d rather a light normal bike or one of the lighter lower powered ebikes. Tbh tempted by an Orbea rise but would like to ride one first

Lots of people do lots of things for different reasons.

If the highest possible speeds give you a buzz then why don't you race motorcycles?

He did, for years.

But 25mph can still be crazy fast if the trees are close, so even though a lower speed you can still get the fun

I did too, for 10 years.

Agree about the trees too!

[Couchy]

^^^ As you have previously said.

There is much terrain, which you are clearly not interested in, which is gnarly, twisty, often rooty, and relatively slow which many riders are interested in, and which often requires steep ascents to reach.

Lots of slow tech stuff local and a lot of XC stuff too which I enjoy just as much, also all done in turbo/emtb, but we all ride for different reasons

Agreed.

I just don’t see why I’d have an ebike and use eco. I’d rather a light normal bike or one of the lighter lower powered ebikes. Tbh tempted by an Orbea rise but would like to ride one first

Lots of people do lots of things for different reasons.

If the highest possible speeds give you a buzz then why don't you race motorcycles?

Been there done that I was rubbish, I get the same buzz from an ebike and running costs are £5 at the cafe. It’s also a lot of local stuff and the girls, ride too.

[weeksy]

Lots of slow tech stuff local and a lot of XC stuff too which I enjoy just as much, also all done in turbo/emtb, but we all ride for different reasons

Agreed.

I just don’t see why I’d have an ebike and use eco. I’d rather a light normal bike or one of the lighter lower powered ebikes. Tbh tempted by an Orbea rise but would like to ride one first

Lots of people do lots of things for different reasons.

If the highest possible speeds give you a buzz then why don't you race motorcycles?

Been there done that I was rubbish, I get the same buzz from an ebike and running costs are £5 at the cafe. It’s also a lot of local stuff and the girls, ride too.

Lol harsh, you were a decent racer. Don't put yourself down.

[millemille]

...running costs are £5 at the cafe...

Really?

Not sure James's till receipt supports that idea....

[Couchy]

...running costs are £5 at the cafe...

Really?

Not sure James's till receipt supports that idea....

Shhhh wives have access to the internet !

[Couchy]

Been a good week on the new XL trek, up to 100 miles now and some PB times on local trails so it must suit me

[Couchy]

So how's the trek going. Great and not a lot to report. As many know my favourite riding is more XC based having sherwood pines on my doorstep and it being part of my commute. Because of this since I rediscovered MTB 4 or 5 years ago that's where most of my riding and riding practice/skills have developed. I'm a big fan of fast flowing trails, the ebike helps feed this of course. I still throw in a few peaks rides and others but these are very much rides for a day out and the scenery and I wouldn't ever ride them at 100% like I do locally. So using Pines as my favourite place to push I time all my rides and there's a group of us on there that swap and share times. I don't know many of them personally but it adds to the fun there.
I have tried a couple of local mtb groups and they were very much cyclists who's view of ebike isn't great and they seem to assume if you have one you can't ride or are a novice. I didn't go back to their rides as they were too slow lol.
So last night I thought I'd try another group ride, who knows why as it's known I have enough friends and to make a new one an old one has to drop off but I find myself dropping a £5 into a charity box and joining 25 riders for a tortoise and hare ride round pines. Basically the normal bikes will set off and then the ebikes will follow upto 10 mins later over an 8 mile course and see who arrives at the end first. It's not a race...yeah right lol.
I don't recognise any of the names from the 'strava' groups but not everyone uses it but still I'm confident enough. There are 15 normal bikes and 10 ebikes. From the pre event banter the thoughts are the ebike can't catch the faster normal riders, we'll see. The first groups head off, 5 mins later some of the ebikes go but I along with 7 others stay the full ten minutes. I set off third after two of the ebikes say they are quick and know the course. It takes two sections till I politely ask to be let by as I've got some normal bikes to catch !. Takes a good 3 or 4 miles to catch the first riders, about 6 miles in I catch the earlier ebikes and then at 7 miles the last of the normal bikes. I get my head down for the last mile expecting to see more but I arrive at the finish first having passed 15 or so riders, another ebike arrives a minute or so later followed by the first of the normal bikes. But it's not a race although I set some PB times and gave it 100% as did everyone else. It turned out to be a superb idea and event and many have asked for it to be repeated as all thoroughly enjoyed it. Personally I didn't think I was competitive anymore, that kind of got blown away once we were all moving lol

[Couchy]

So this happened



I started the ebike mtb riding some 4/5 years ago after visiting docs with knee pain. Short version it’s arthritis and they tell me to exercise and build up muscles round the joint. I tried a normal bike and it didn’t work as the pain was too much. Hence the ebike so I could vary my effort. Several years on my fitness is prob the best it ever has been and I’ve been able to play the ebike strava game fairly well locally on what is pretty much XC tracks.
My cardio fitness is fine but the knee still plays up occasionally, however I thought it was time to go back to a normal bike at least for the 18 mile commute if not for chasing times. First ride was a couple of nights ago, the knee….on the ebike I can run at max HR for a fair while and put loads of effort in, but on the ebike that means a quick cadence and the knee copes ok. On the normal bike full effort on climbs coincides with a slow cadence and a lot of pressure and that doesn’t work. With that in mind it’ll be ebike for fast or long rides and the normal one for commute and riding with the little un.
So the bike, an Orbea OIZ, a short travel mtb or XC bike or a mix of the two. It’s hugely confidence inspiring and ridiculously light. Takes no effort to move it about on the trail and it’s quiet very quiet. Ebikes due to the motor and weight are noisy things. I really like it, bit annoyed I can’t ride as hard as I want but happy I can ride one at all

[weeksy]

Can't tell you how happy this makes me. Soon as @crust is allowed, we'll be up for a day !

[Couchy]

Can't tell you how happy this makes me. Soon as @crust is allowed, we'll be up for a day !

I can’t ride with others I’m too slow on the climbs even walking at times, downhill and flat is ok though

[irie]

Can't tell you how happy this makes me. Soon as @crust is allowed, we'll be up for a day !

I can’t ride with others I’m too slow on the climbs even walking at times, downhill and flat is ok though

Which is exactly why I got an eBike. Electric legs for climbing, then turn the motor off for downhill.

[weeksy]

Can't tell you how happy this makes me. Soon as @crust is allowed, we'll be up for a day !

I can’t ride with others I’m too slow on the climbs even walking at times, downhill and flat is ok though

Bullshit.

Riding with others is all about appropriate mentality, acceptance and attitudes. It makes bollox all difference how slow you go up, around or over. It's about mates riding together

[Couchy]

Can't tell you how happy this makes me. Soon as @crust is allowed, we'll be up for a day !

I can’t ride with others I’m too slow on the climbs even walking at times, downhill and flat is ok though

Which is exactly why I got an eBike. Electric legs for climbing, then turn the motor off for downhill.

It’s difficult as I’ve got the fitness, just haven’t got the knee. I’m a bit annoyed but I can have a new one in a few years

[weeksy]

I can’t ride with others I’m too slow on the climbs even walking at times, downhill and flat is ok though

Which is exactly why I got an eBike. Electric legs for climbing, then turn the motor off for downhill.

It’s difficult as I’ve got the fitness, just haven’t got the knee. I’m a bit annoyed but I can have a new one in a few years

Maybe it's a case of technique? No hill at pines can be 40rpm in a 52 rear?

But the walking if that's what's needed doesn't matter. It's part of the laughs

[Couchy]

Which is exactly why I got an eBike. Electric legs for climbing, then turn the motor off for downhill.

It’s difficult as I’ve got the fitness, just haven’t got the knee. I’m a bit annoyed but I can have a new one in a few years

Maybe it's a case of technique? No hill at pines can be 40rpm in a 52 rear?

But the walking if that's what's needed doesn't matter. It's part of the laughs

Spinning is fine, grinding out in a tall gear or any gear is the issue even on pines gradients. One knee is fine the other not. But haven’t given up I’ll keep at it, just not sure how to make it stronger if I can’t work it hard

[irie]

I can’t ride with others I’m too slow on the climbs even walking at times, downhill and flat is ok though

Which is exactly why I got an eBike. Electric legs for climbing, then turn the motor off for downhill.

It’s difficult as I’ve got the fitness, just haven’t got the knee. I’m a bit annoyed but I can have a new one in a few years

My left ACL is very second hand, trying to avoid a new knee which will improve one plane of movement but which will restrict many other planes of movement.

[irie]

Which is exactly why I got an eBike. Electric legs for climbing, then turn the motor off for downhill.

It’s difficult as I’ve got the fitness, just haven’t got the knee. I’m a bit annoyed but I can have a new one in a few years

Maybe it's a case of technique? No hill at pines can be 40rpm in a 52 rear?

But the walking if that's what's needed doesn't matter. It's part of the laughs

As I see it time walking uphill is wasted downhill time.